Harness-tug



W. S. GASSADY.

(No Model.)

HARNESS TU G.

- Patented Oct. 29,1895.

ANDREW BIGRAIIAM,FNOTOUTHQWASHINGYON, 0.0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. GASSADY', OF MILLVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

HARNESS-TUG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,953, dated October29, 1895.

Applicati n filed pn'l 3,1895- Serial No. 544,955. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. CASSADY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Millville, in the county of Cumberland and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness-Tugs; and I. do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same. V

My invention relates to an improvement in harness-tugs, and has for itsobject the ready attachment and detachment of the tug to the shaftswithout inserting them over the end of the shafts, and more especiallyto provide a simple and'efiective means of attachment and adjustment ofthe tug to the tug-bearer, and is particularly designed as animprovement on my prior Patent No. 415,381, dated November 19, 1889.

My invention further consists in certain features of construction andcombination of parts more fully hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tugembodying my invention, partly in section. Figs. 2 and 3 are edge views,and Fig. 4is a detail side and edge view of a modified form oflocking-block.

In the drawings, 2 represents the tug as a whole, which consists of theopen metallic hook 3, which is provided with the open retaining-loop 4,which embraces the billet-strap 5 at end of the hook. The billet-strap 5is made in order to facilitate the insertion within the walls of theretaining-loop 4 with a reduced portion which is perforated,'as isusual, and to it is buckled or otherwise secured the girth orbelly-band. The billet-strap 5 is preferably secured to the inner sideof the supporting-hook in such a manner as to form a leather lining forthe same and thereby more firmly grasp the shaft.

The attachment of the hook to the tug-bearer 6 is of great importance tothe successful use of tugs of this character, and it is in this that ingthe tug, especially the metallic hook in .metallic hook, where thestraight shank is joined to the curved portion.

A block 9, provided with a detent 10, fits in said groove, and saiddetent is provided with a projection adapted to fit a depression 12 inthe bottom of the groove, and is further provided with a pin or post 11,which is provided with threads or otherwise roughened. This post isadapted to enter the perforations in the tug-bearer 6, and when theblock 9 is in place the tug-bearer is held in the proper position, thestrap filling the opening between the walls of the bridge-piece, and thepost 11 is beneath the wall of the bridge-piece and in close proximitythereto, so that the parts are held securely together.

The weight of the shafts holds the tugbearer against slide and keeps thedetent in the depression 12 against accidental displacement. 1

The operation is as follows: The horse is backed between the shafts andthe billet-strap is passed through the open loop and is then drawntightly, so that the wide portion of the strap comes within the confinesof the loop, after which the girth or belly-band is at-. tached thereto.In'case it is desired to shorten or lengthen the distance of the tugfrom the harness-saddle, the post 11 on locking-block is inserted in oneof the perforations of the tugbearer, the thread or roughened portionpreventing said block from dropping out of said perforation. The end ofthe tug-bearer having been first passed through the loop 8, the block 9is then drawn up into the groove and the detent engages with and is heldin the depression 12. The adjustment is then easily made. Should it bedesired to alter the position of the tug with relation to thetug-bearer, it is only necessary to place the finger behind thetug-bearer and beneath the projecting end of the detent, when a slightoutward pressure releases the detent and the parts are free to be moved,as may be desired.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 I show a spring-detent instead ofagravity-detent, as in Figs. 1 and 2,but the operation is the same inboth cases. It is obvious that other slight changes might be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claimas new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a harness tug comprising a metallic supporting hook, having astraight shank, a groove formed therein, a locking block fitting saidgroove, and means for detachably connecting said block to the shank, anda stud carried by said locking block and a tug-bearer adapted to besecured thereto, thereby supporting the tug, said metallic hook alsobeing provided with a loop upon the outer end of the hook, a billetstrap secured to the inner face of the hook, adapted to surround theshaft and to be held in place within the loop, thereby securing the tugto the shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a harness tug, comprising a metallic supporting hook, having astraight shank, a loop formed upon said shank, a groove formed therein,a locking block fitting said groove, and a detent carried by said blockdetachably connecting said block to the shank, and a stud carried bysaid locking block and a tug bearer adapted to be secured thereto,thereby supporting the tug, said metallic hook also being provided witha loop upon the outer end of the hook, a billet strap secured to theinner face of the hook, adapted to surround the shaft and to be held inplace said groove, and a detent pivotally connected to the lockingblock, said detent being adapted to enter a depression in the bottom ofsaid groove, thereby detachably connecting said block to the shank, astud carried by said locking block and a tug bearer adapted to besecured thereto and forming a support for the tug, said metallic hookalso being provided with a loop upon the outer end of the hook, a billetstrap secured to the inner face of the hook, and adapted to surround theshaft and be held in place within the loop upon the outer end of thehook thereby securing the tug to the shaft, substantially as described.

4. In a harness tug comprising a metallic supporting hook, having astraight shank, a loop formed upon said shank, a V-shaped groove formedtherein having an open lower end and a closed upper end, a locking blockfitting said groove, the closed end of. said groove forming a shoulderagainst which the locking block abuts, a stud carried by said lockingblock, and a detent pivotally connected to said locking block, said.detent being adapted to enter a depression in the bottom of said groove,and when in this position to cause the stud to be beneath the loop uponthe straight shankof the hook, a tug bearer adapted to pass through saidloop and to receive the stud upon the locking block thereby supportingthe tug, said metallic book also being provided with a loop upon theouter end of the book, a billet strap secured to the inner face of thehook, and adapted to surround the shaft and be held in place within theloop upon the outer end of the hook thereby securing the tug to theshaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM S. OASSADY. l/Vitnessesz HANNAH R. SHELDON,

SAMUEL M. SHELDON.

